Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Re: Parenting Plan Modification

Dear Madam:

Based on the facts you presented, more information may be necessary in order for an attorney to fully review the case at hand.

Although the change in schedule may create difficulties, the question may hinge on whether or not such a change is sufficiently substantial. Thus, the court may look to the issue of whether or not there is 'adequate cause' for modification and a 'substantial change' in circumstances. After such is determined, modification may or not be granted. It is very likely, nonetheless, that the court may seek to resolve this issue by addressing the 'best interests of the child'.

This case may call for the need of an attorney.

Thank you.

Respectfully.

Re: Parenting Plan Modification

How does it help your child to prevent her from having regularly scheduled time with her father? Is there a compromise that would maintain the amount of time that he has with her and work with his new job? Could the overnights switch to another night, like Thursdays? If you lived closer would that help? If he lived closer would that help?

You are divorced from him, but with any luck you will remain parents of this child for a long time. You need to establish what I call a co parenting relationship with him. There will come a time when your littl girl won't want to spend time with either of you, because she'll be busy with her friends and then maybe going away to college or otherwise leaving her home.

Making the other parent's life difficult does not make your child's life any easier. Compromising does. Having a parenting plan that spells out every last detail, encourages you to use alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to avoid court and keep the costs down, and finally resolves the details of how to find consensus on the daily parenting issues helps your child.

Trying to maneuver to shut him out doesn't help anything. Chances are good that a court would not support you, because he hasn't done anything wrong, he's just trying to earn a living and that isn't a basis to modify a plan and take away time from him.

Elizabeth Powell